1. Brigade Combat Team Mix
What is Mr. Tier’s thesis statement? Do you agree with him? Disagree? Why?
What evidence does he use to support this position?
What, if any, biases do you see in his argument?
What would some limiting factors be when implementing the types of changes he calls for?
Based on the Stars and Stripes article by Corey Dickstein also assigned, is the Army moving toward this way of thinking?
Based on current events and your own reflection what will the next conflict look like? What does it mean when we label an adversary a “near peer”?

2. Capabilities and Limitations of BCTs
02 AUG 19

3. AGENDA Describe the role of BCTs.
Understand the task organization of the three types of BCTs.
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the three types of BCTs.

4. Learning Objective
ACTION: Discuss the capabilities and limitations of different types of BCTs.
CONDITION: Through Interactive Multimedia Instruction and drawing on past training, education, personal experience, and individual learning while faced with ambiguous, ill-structured problems characteristic of the operational environment.
STANDARDS: Discussion includes -
The role of BCTs.
The task organization of BCTs.
The strengths and weaknesses of different types of BCTs.

5. Brigade Combat Teams Role of the Brigade Combat Teams
Types of Brigade Combat Teams
BCT Role: FM 3-96, chapter 1, page 1-1: Brigade combat teams (BCTs) organize to conduct decisive action, which is the continuous, simultaneous combinations of offensive, defensive, and stability or defense support of civil authorities tasks (ADP 3-0). The BCT is the Army’s primary combined arms, close combat force. BCTs often operate as part of a division or joint task force. The division or joint task force acts as a tactical headquarters that can control up to six BCTs in high- or mid-intensity combat operations. The tactical headquarters assigns the BCT its mission, area of operations, and supporting elements. The headquarters coordinates the BCT’s actions with other BCTs in the formation. The BCT might be required to detach subordinate elements to other brigades attached or assigned to the division or task force. Usually, this tactical headquarters assigns augmentation elements to the BCT. Field artillery, maneuver enhancement, sustainment, and combat aviation brigades can all support BCT operations.

6. Types of BCTs Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT)
Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT)
Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT)
There are three types of BCTs: infantry, Stryker and armored. Modular brigade combat teams are combat proven organizations with inherent capabilities that are well suited for the range of military operations in a multi-domain environment. A BCT is the Army’s primary combined arms, close-combat force. BCTs maneuver against, close with, and destroy the enemy. BCTs seize and retain key terrain, exert constant pressure, and break the enemy’s will to fight. They are the principal ground maneuver units of a division. BCTs have organic combined arms capabilities, including battalion sized maneuver, field artillery, reconnaissance, and sustainment units. Each BCT has organic medical support. Division maneuver combines joint capabilities with the organic capabilities of BCTs to provide mutual support that enables BCTs to conduct operations within contiguous or noncontiguous AOs.
A BCT has organic capabilities across the warfighting function (mission command, movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, sustainment, and protection warfighting functions). These capabilities are scalable to meet mission requirements. These organic capabilities include maneuver, field artillery, intelligence, signal, engineer, CBRN, and sustainment capabilities.

7. ABCT TASK ORG
The ABCT’s role is to close with the enemy using fire and movement to destroy or capture enemy forces, to repel enemy attacks by fire, to engage in close combat, and to counterattack to control land areas, including populations and resources. The ABCT organizes to concentrate overwhelming combat power.
Mobility, protection, and firepower enable the ABCT to conduct offensive tasks with great precision and speed. The ABCT performs complementary missions to the IBCT and SBCT.
The ABCT conducts offensive tasks to defeat, destroy, or neutralize the enemy. The ABCT conducts defensive tasks to defeat an enemy attack, buy time, economize forces, and develop favorable conditions for offensive actions. During stability, the ABCT’s commitment of time, resources, and forces establish and reinforce diplomatic and military resolve to achieve a safe, secure environment and a sustainable peace.
The ABCT conducts sustained and large-scale actions within the foundations of unified land operations. The ABCT can fight without additional combat power but can be task-organized to meet the precise needs of its missions. The ABCT conducts expeditionary deployments and integrates the Army’s efforts with unified action partners.
The ABCT is a combined arms organization consisting of three combined arms battalions of Armor and mechanized infantry companies. Cavalry, field artillery, engineer, intelligence, signal, sustainment, and CBRN reconnaissance units are organic to the ABCT, also. Higher commanders augment the ABCT for a
specific mission. Augmentation can include aviation, armor, field artillery, air defense, military police, civil affairs, military information support operations elements, engineers, CBRN, and additional information systems assets.
The addition of the brigade engineer battalion and battery to the field artillery battalion is a recent formation modification that some ABCTs are currently fielding, or will be fielding in the near future. The brigade engineer battalion replaces the BSTB and has a second engineer company.

8. IBCT TASK ORG
The IBCT is an expeditionary, combined arms formation optimized for dismounted operations in complex terrain—a geographical area consisting of an urban center larger than a village and/or of two or more types of restrictive terrain or environmental conditions occupying the same space (ATP ). The IBCT can conduct entry operations by ground, air land, air assault, or amphibious assault (via surface and vertical) into austere areas of operations with little or no advanced notice. Airborne IBCTs can conduct vertical envelopment by parachute assault. The IBCT’s dismounted capability in complex terrain separates it from other functional brigades and BCTs.
The role of the IBCT is to close with the enemy using fire and movement to destroy or capture enemy forces, or to repel enemy attacks by fire, close combat, and counterattack. Fire and movement is the concept of applying fires from all sources to suppress, neutralize, or destroy the enemy, and the tactical movement of combat forces in relation to the enemy (as components of maneuver applicable at all echelons). At the squad level, fire and movement entails a team placing suppressive fire on the enemy as another team moves against or around the enemy.

9. SBCT TASK ORG
The SBCT is an expeditionary combined arms force organized around mounted infantry. SBCT units operate effectively in most terrain and weather conditions due to their rapid strategic deployment and mobility. The role of the SBCT is to close with the enemy by means of fire and movement, to destroy or capture enemy forces, or repel enemy attacks by fire, close combat, and counterattack to control land areas, including populations and resources.
The SBCT can gain the initiative early, seize and retain key terrain, any locality, or area, the seizure or retention of which affords a marked advantage to either combatant, and conduct massed fire, fire from a number of weapons directed at a single point or small area, to stop the enemy.
The SBCT is task organized to meet specific mission requirements. All SBCTs include maneuver, field artillery, intelligence, signal, engineer, CBRN, and sustainment capabilities. This organizational flexibility enables SBCTs to function across the range of military operations. Higher commanders augment the SBCT for a specific mission with additional capabilities such as aviation, armor, field artillery, air defense, military police, civil affairs, military information support elements, engineers, CBRN, and information systems assets.

10. ABCT Field Artillery Battalion
Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT)
The ABCT field artillery battalion has four batteries, a headquarters and headquarters battery and three batteries of six M109A6 Paladin self-propelled 155-mm howitzers. The batteries are manned and equipped to operate as two separate firing platoons of three guns. The field artillery battalion provides massing fires in
space and time on single or multiple targets with precision, near precision, and area fires to support ABCT operations. The field artillery battalion has two AN/TPQ-53 counter-fire radars and four AN/TPQ-50 lightweight counter-mortar radars for target acquisition. (Refer to FM 3-09 for additional information.)

11. ABCT Brigade Support Battalion
Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT)
The ABCT BSB contains a headquarters and headquarters company, a distribution company, a field maintenance company, a medical company, and six forward support companies. Identical FSCs support each combined arms battalion, one forward support company supports an armored cavalry squadron, one forward support company supports the field artillery battalion, and one forward support company supports the brigade engineer battalion.
The BSB provides direct support to a brigade combat team. The BSB has the capability to operate a supply storage activity, operate an ammunition transfer holding point, conduct field maintenance support, perform distribution operations and provide some AHS support. The BSB medical company provides Role 2 medical care including behavioral health support to all units within the brigade. Forward support companies provide distribution, field feeding and field maintenance support to supported battalions. Other capabilities include:
- Field maintenance support to the BSB and the brigade headquarters. The FSCs provide this support to their respective supported battalion.
- Field feeding support to the BSB headquarters company, distribution company, field maintenance company, and medical company.

12. ABCT Brigade Engineer Battalion
Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT)
The Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB) provides a baseline of combat capabilities that can be augmented with specialized units from echelons above the brigade. Each BCT has organic geospatial engineering capabilities to provide a baseline of geospatial support. Additional Army, joint, multinational, interagency, and other engineering capabilities may be available and task-organized to augment the BCT for various phases of the operation. Additional Army engineering capabilities are organized within an engineer force pool. The construct of the Army engineer operational force is a complementary and interdependent relationship between four major unit categories (organic engineer, engineer headquarters, baseline engineer, and specialized engineer).
The BEB has the mission command of assigned and attached engineer companies and is assigned an MI company; a signal company; and a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance platoon (located in the headquarters and headquarters company). The BEB provides maneuver support for bridging, breaching, route clearance, explosive hazards identification, and horizontal construction support.

13. Cyber and Space Enabled Considerations
Over 3200 pieces of BCT equipment are GPS enabled.
Over 300 pieces of BCT equipment are SATCOM enabled.
Narrowband
Ultra High Frequency (UHF)
DAGR
PRC-117
JBC-P
Wideband
Super High Frequency (SHF)
STT
CSS VSAT
Protected band
Extremely High Frequency (EHF)
SMART-T
Space enabled equipment relies on the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS)
A satellite relays data (communications) or broadcast data (GPS, Imagery)
Satellite receivers are vulnerable to enemy Electronic Warfare (EW)
Cyber Vulnerabilities at the BCT Level
Multiple electronic-based systems – Battle Command, Fire Control, Sustainment, Diagnostic…
Public facing websites, social media, personal electronic devices, cellphones….
The core tactical combat element of the Army (the BCT) has a heavy dependence on space illustrated by a typical BCT having over 3200 pieces of MTOE equipment reliant on GPS and over 300 of MTOE equipment reliant on SATCOM. During Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO), it is expected that the enemy will attempt to deny friendly force access to these capabilities. If the enemy is successful in attacking these satellite linkages, the BCT and subordinate elements will be negatively impacted across all warfighting functions (WfF).
Space enabled equipment utilized by the Brigade Combat Team (BCT) relies on the EMS. The EMS facilitates the transmission of communication data from Army ground based terminals (i.e. Satellite Transportable Terminal (STT)) to the satellite on orbit. The satellite boosts the signal strength, and than retransmits it to the intended recipient back on the ground. The satellite is basically a “retrans” station in space, but because of its high altitude. However– both the communications receiver located on the satellite, and the associated ground terminal, are vulnerable to enemy EW attack.
It is important to understand the basic capabilities and limitations of the different portions of the EMS (UHF, SHF, EHF).
It is critical during operations to encrypt GPS receivers – encrypted GPS receivers are much harder for adversary EW to successfully attack (either jam or spoof), and can additionally help defeat the impact of solar weather. However—it is very important with GPS during LSCO to have a Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency (PACE) plan. Powerful GPS jammers can still impact even an encrypted GPS, so it is important to have a PACE (i.e. map/compass) plan in a contested environment.
Satellite Communications (SATCOM) linkages are very important in providing the BCT with beyond line of sight (BLOS)/worldwide connectivity. However, BN/BCT staffs need to account for and plan what the potential impacts are of weather/terrain and enemy EW against our SATCOM linkages. As with GPS, there needs to be a good PACE plan developed for SATCOM.
Regarding satellite communications ---has the unit S6/G6 submitted a Satellite Access Request (SAR) to operate/get access to a communications satellite? The BCT cannot access and use the satellite unless it has properly submitted the appropriate SAR.
TTPs for Commanders and Leaders
Shakeouts and road marches for systems
Train for degraded or “analog” mode
Control and/or limit the use of personal electronic devices and cell phones
Map out the social media terrain

14. BCT Space and Cyber Capabilities
DAGR PSN-13
RQ-11 RAVEN B
CSS VSAT
FBCB2-BFT
AN/GYK-57 or 58 AFATDS
Analog Systems Are Important!
Over 3200 pieces of BCT equipment are GPS enabled.
Over 300 pieces of BCT equipment are SATCOM enabled.
Satellites relays data (communications) or broadcast data (GPS, Imagery)
Space Weather and Local weather are planning factors for the BCT
Space enabled equipment relies on the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS)
Satellite receivers are vulnerable to enemy Electronic Warfare (EW)
Planning Cyberspace Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) cell within the BCT (MOS 17E Electronic Warfare Specialist)
CEMA complements and supports the MDMP and Targeting processes
Suggested Narrative: This slide depicts some of the space enabled equipment found on a typical Brigade Combat Team (BCT) Modification Table of Organization and Equipment (MTOE). As shown, even at the tactical level there is a great reliance on satellites to support operations. During Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO), it is expected that the enemy will attempt to deny friendly force access to these capabilities. If the enemy is successful in attacking these satellite linkages, the BCT and subordinate elements will be negatively impacted across all warfighting functions (WfF).
Key Slide Takeaways:
The core tactical combat element of the Army has a heavy dependence on space illustrated by a typical BCT having over 3200 pieces of MTOE equipment reliant on GPS and over 300 of MTOE equipment reliant on SATCOM.
This slide is for illustration, so do not be focused on explaining individual pieces of equipment.
It is critical during operations to encrypt GPS receivers – encrypted GPS receivers are much harder for adversary EW to successfully attack (either jam or spoof), and can additionally help defeat the impact of solar weather. However—it is very important with GPS during LSCO to have a Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency (PACE) plan. Powerful GPS jammers can still impact even an encrypted GPS, so it is important to have a PACE (i.e. map/compass) plan in a contested environment.
Satellite Communications (SATCOM) linkages are very important in providing the BCT with beyond line of sight (BLOS)/worldwide connectivity. However, BN/BCT staffs need to account for and plan what the potential impacts are of weather/terrain and enemy EW against our SATCOM linkages. As with GPS, there needs to be a good PACE plan developed for SATCOM.
Regarding satellite communications ---has the unit S6/G6 submitted a Satellite Access Request (SAR) to operate/get access to a communications satellite? The BCT cannot access and use the satellite unless it has properly submitted the appropriate SAR.
Key Terms:
BCT: Brigade Combat Team
BFT: Blue Force Tracker
GPS: Global Positioning System
LSCO: Large Scale Combat Operations
MTOE: Modification Table of Organization and Equipment
SATCOM: Satellite Communications
WfF: Warfighting Functions
Slide Space Enabled Equipment Key Terms:
FBCB2-BFT: Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below-Blue Force Tracker
DAGR: Defense Advanced GPS Receiver
RQ-11 RAVEN B: Is a lightweight unmanned aircraft system (UAS). It is designed for rapid deployment and high-mobility.
AN/GYK-57 or 58 AFATDS: Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System
AN/TSC-154 SMART-T: Secure, Mobile, Anti-Jam, Reliable, Tactical-Terminal- MILSTAR satellite-compatible communications terminal that’s mounted on a highly mobile vehicle.
AN/TSC-183 CSS VSAT: Combat Service Support Very Small Aperture Terminal
Instructor notes: The Space enabled equipment on the slide utilizes the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) to transmit and receive data.
Suggested narrative: Space enabled equipment utilized by the Brigade Combat Team (BCT) relies on the EMS. The EMS facilitates the transmission of communication data from Army ground based terminals (i.e. Satellite Transportable Terminal (STT)) to the satellite on orbit. The satellite boosts the signal strength, and than retransmits it to the intended recipient back on the ground. The satellite is basically a “retrans” station in space, but because of its high altitude (22,300 miles) a single satellite can cover up to 1/3 of the earths surface. However– both the communications receiver located on the satellite, and the associated ground terminal, are vulnerable to enemy EW attack.
Another example of satellite connectivity is the positioning and timing signal provided by the global positioning systems (GPS), which is broadcast continually by a group of GPS satellites operating at an altitude of 12,500 miles. These satellites provide position and timing data, and are easy to access by any terrestrial user that has either a military or commercial GPS receiver. However, in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO), the GPS ground user equipment is very vulnerable to enemy EW attack, electromagnetic interference from adjacent/allied formations, and manipulation (spoofing). The GPS signal is about as strong as a 60 watt light bulb, and after traveling 12,500 miles thru space (distance from satellite to receiver) is very weak by the time it reaches the recipient on the ground.
Space Weather: Activity include solar flares (a rapid, intense variation in solar brightness, including a release of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum) and coronal mass ejections (huge bubbles of gas ejected from the sun over the course of several hours). These solar weather disturbances may potentially degrade both commercial and military capabilities for periods ranging from several minutes to a few hours to more extreme impacts such as loss of system performance. In extreme circumstances, solar weather may cause a loss of system performance.
Cyberspace operations is the employment of cyberspace capabilities where the primary purpose is to achieve objectives in or through cyberspace (JP 3-0)
Electronic warfare is military action involving the use of electromagnetic and directed energy to control the electromagnetic spectrum or to attack the enemy. (JP )
Threat cyberspace capabilities can disrupt friendly information systems and degrade command and control (C2) across the joint force.
Friendly cyberspace operations enable commanders to defend networks and data and gain advantages in the cyberspace domain through various means. (para 1-14)
The communications portion of the EMS is divided into three primary components. The primary advantages and disadvantages of each portion of the spectrum are discussed below:
Ultra High Frequency (UHF) – The UHF portion of the spectrum is effective for Army tactical operations– user equipment (like the PSC-5, and PRC-117 TACSAT) are easy to set up, great for communicating on the move, and pointing the antenna toward the satellite does not need to be as precise as for other forms of satellite communications. Additionally, UHF remains effective in bad weather (heavy rain). The GPS signal utilizes the UHF spectrum, and (as mentioned above) is broadcast on a continuous basis – thus always being available to the GPS user on the ground/or in an aircraft. The disadvantages of UHF include: very vulnerable to enemy EW, can be impacted by solar weather, and has limited bandwidth capacity (for instance--cannot support full motion video files).
Super High Frequency (SHF) – The SHF portion of the spectrum is also very important for Army operations. SHF provides a good combination of tactical (operator friendly, some communications on the move), and operational support (greater bandwidth to transmit large files/video data). SHF is more resistant to enemy EW attacks than UHF, and provides a good combination of capability to help mitigate (though not eliminate) solar and terrestrial weather issues. However, there are some limitations of SHF that also need to be considered, which include: a sophisticated and skilled adversary can still conduct EW against SHF, some of SHF resides on commercially owned satellites – which makes it more vulnerable to EW and Cyber attacks, and certain portions of the SHF spectrum can be impacted by moderate to heavy rain. The bottom line with SHF is that from a communications standpoint it provides a “sweet spot” from an Army user perspective. It is not full proof to enemy attack/weather issues, but provides a great combination of capability that certainly makes SHF a very advantageous spectrum for Army use.
Extremely High Frequency (EHF) – The EHF spectrum is the most EW resistant, and provides the greatest bandwidth capacity. The Secure Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical Terminal (Smart-T) is the primary EHF capable terminal that is assigned to the BCT, and would provide the best capability for assured satellite communications in a highly contest environment. The primary limitations of EHF are: technical – challenging for the operator, need to have a proficient signal soldier to operate, and– very susceptible to poor weather (moderate/heavy rain).

15. BCT Capabilities and Limitations
Practical Exercise
BCT Capabilities and Limitations
Situation: The 4th ID has been tasked by III Corps to seize key river crossing sites at Plavinas and Jekabpils (shown on the map at right). The Division has four BCTs in its task organization: two ABCTs, one SBCT and one IBCT. The Division has the following key missions:
Mission 1: Seize an over-watch position and screen along the likely enemy avenue of approach (AA 1) for reinforcement.
Mission 2: Seize river crossing site at Plavinas.
Mission 3: Seize river crossing site at Jekabpils.
Scenario 4: Act as Division reserve and conduct consolidation of gains in the Division Area.
Your Task
Based on what you have learned in the in this class about BCTs, and using FM 3-96, Brigade Combat Team, 8 October 2015 as a reference, answer the following questions:
Which type of BCT would you assign to the four missions? Why?
What challenges/limitations might each BCT have?
What external capabilities might be required?
What role would units and/or personnel from your specific branch of assignment play in this particular operation? XX 61 AA 1 XX 62
Crossing Sites X 1 X 2 X 3 X 4

16. BACKUP SLIDES